Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

No matter how much time passed, Joanna Kennedy always had the power to make him lose his mind.

During Simon Lockwood’s bleak and wretched youth, the girl had stormed into his world, her beautiful face held high with a radiant, flower-like smile.

To him, Joanna was like a vibrant, delicate flower blooming in a run-down alley—out of place, yet so captivating he couldn’t look away.

His upbringing had taught him from a young age about the complexity of the human heart, that anything sweet and tempting was a path to ruin.

But he had disregarded everything to bring that ”precious flower” home, forgetting he could barely even support himself.

’I shouldn’t blame Joanna for abandoning me,’ Simon thought. ’I was the one who was wrong from the very beginning.’

He had been arrogant and naive, believing he could defy the world’s rules all on his own. Only after being beaten black and blue did he finally realize just how fragile he was.

Just like right now, he was still a mess.

The next morning, Joanna was woken by hunger. Her empty stomach twisted in pain, and a dull ache throbbed in her hungover head. It took her several seconds to realize she was in Simon Lockwood’s bedroom.

Her last memory was of Simon’s enlarged, handsome, yet gloomy face.

’Did Simon bring me back?’

She remembered going to a bar with Anna Yates, having a drink, and then her head starting to spin. ’Could I have drunk-dialed Simon?!’

No matter how hard Joanna tried, she couldn’t remember.

Soon, she noticed a more pressing problem— ’Where are my clothes?!’

A large, white, long-sleeved men’s shirt barely covered her thighs, and it carried a familiar, fresh scent.

’This isn’t my shirt!’

A jolt went through Joanna.

Joanna didn’t dare to think about who had changed her clothes. The mere thought made her scalp tingle and her face instantly burn. She wanted to die.

She buried her face in the pillow, her limbs splayed out as if she were half-dead.

The moment Simon walked in, he saw her in this state.

Her long, fair legs had a faint pinkish hue. The not-so-long white shirt had ridden up slightly because of her movements, revealing the shapely curve of her slender waist. It looked soft, pinchable.

...

The impact of this scene was no less than seeing those two male models walk out of the private room last night.

An unreadable emotion flickered in Simon’s eyes. He rubbed his fingers together a few times before finally suppressing certain unhealthy thoughts.

He thought Joanna was still asleep, so he slowed his steps as he approached the bed, picking up the fallen blanket to cover her.

Before he could, Joanna whipped her head around, her eyes wary. When she saw it was him, her gaze instantly softened and grew watery. ”You don’t make a sound when you walk...”

Simon froze for two seconds. His Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously, and his voice came out hoarse. ”You just didn’t hear me.”

Joanna: ”...”

The girl glared at him indignantly, completely unaware that he had seen everything.

Simon’s gaze slowly roamed down her body, finally settling on the soft flesh of her inner thighs, which were pressed red. He didn’t move.

Joanna followed his gaze down at herself and realized what Simon was looking at.

She immediately bristled. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she snatched the blanket from his hand and covered herself, shouting in a fit of humiliation and anger, ”What are you looking at, you pervert!”

”I can’t look?” Simon’s tone was casual.

Joanna was utterly stunned by his shamelessness, so angry she could only stammer, ”You—you—you—”

Simon moved closer, leaning down until his warmth was against hers. His voice was inexplicably tense. ”Do you remember what happened last night?”

’What happened last night?!’

’I usually hold my liquor well, right?’ But seeing the tight expression on Simon’s face, she wasn’t so sure. She asked warily, ”What did I do?”

Maybe it was her imagination, but when he heard her question, Simon suddenly seemed to relax. He said nonchalantly, ”Nothing.”

’So... she forgot.’

’Heh, what an idiot.’

Simon regained his composure. Using his larger frame, he subtly pressed the girl down into the bed, his voice low and deep. ”You won’t let me look?”

Joanna hadn’t even adjusted to his rapid mood swing, and now she was hearing these outrageous words. ”...”

She was thankful for her strong constitution, which kept her from fainting on the spot. She glared at him, her beautiful almond eyes wide, and said through gritted teeth, ”Only my boyfriend gets to look.”

Simon’s eyes narrowed dangerously. His well-defined fingers suddenly tugged, not too gently, on the necklace around her fair neck, forcing her to lift her small face closer to his. Simon’s tone was low. ”Who is this boyfriend?”

Joanna angrily turned her head away.

”Joanie... speak.” The man’s voice carried a hint of danger.

The familiar, tender nickname, so contrary to his bullying actions, made Joanna’s eyes redden instantly. She retorted stubbornly, ”None of your business.”

Simon’s face darkened. ”Say that again.”

’Fine, I’ll say it again!’

Having been pushed too far, Joanna threw caution to the wind. ”I said, it’s none of your business!”

...

’She never learns.’

A dark, unreadable look filled Simon’s eyes. Without warning, he lowered his head and captured the girl’s pouting, moist red lips. It was a forceful, savage, possessive kiss that allowed no refusal.

Joanna couldn’t take it. She whimpered and tried to push him away, but he easily caught her wrists.

Simon held the girl’s wrists, forcing her to wrap her arms around his waist, and then kissed her even more deeply.

When the kiss ended, Joanna was breathless. A hazy mist clouded her eyes, the corners of which were red. She looked completely and utterly bullied.

However, the man’s conscience didn’t prick him into letting her go. His searing lips moved to the girl’s soft neck, grazing against her skin.

As his lips met her skin, they would occasionally brush against the silver necklace, hindering his blatant attempts to mark his territory.

Simon reached behind the girl’s neck, unclasped the necklace, and tossed it aside. Unobstructed, he closed his mouth over the small patch of skin on her collarbone.

After an unknown amount of time, the man finally let out a satisfied breath, released the girl, and stood up. ”The housekeeper made lobster crystal dumplings. They’ll get cold if you don’t eat them soon.”

Joanna: ”...” ’Why do you think they’re getting cold? Don’t you know exactly why?!’

Simon ignored her angry, accusing glare. He picked up a new set of clothes from the bedside and said magnanimously, ”Get dressed. I’ll wait for you outside.”

’Oh, so now you decide to act like a gentleman? As if you weren’t the one who changed my clothes!’

Joanna lay in bed cursing under her breath for a while before dejectedly getting dressed and washing up.

She also lamented, ’Simon is so unhygienic. He kisses like he hasn’t kissed anyone in eight hundred lifetimes!’

’Once he starts, you can’t push him away. The beast!’ Joanna brushed her teeth vigorously, which pulled at the spot on her tongue he’d bitten. She immediately furrowed her brows in pain.

’And a beast with terrible kissing skills at that!’